Commission delays decision on fair parking

DEL MAR  The Del Mar Fairgrounds came up empty Friday in its push to seal a deal with the California Coastal Commission on the future of undeveloped land near the San Dieguito River that the seaside venue uses for overflow parking.

The fairgrounds was seeking a permit — backed by Coastal Commission staff — that would allow it to keep using some of the land, in exchange for restoring a 9.5 acre parking lot near the river back to wetlands.

The commission postponed its vote on that plan after several environmental groups and members of the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority argued the fairgrounds should restore a larger portion of the property.

Supervisor Dave Roberts, who serves on the river park board, said part of the fairgrounds’ east overflow parking lot should also be returned to its natural habitat.

“When you consider 90 percent of our wetlands have been destroyed, saving this one small piece makes so much sense,” Roberts said.

Fairgrounds Board President Adam Day called that idea “a nonstarter” and said it could unravel the agreement that had already been crafted between the two agencies. But Day and other fairgrounds officials said they were willing to consider restoring a separate 5-acre parcel, south of the Del Mar Horsepark.

The permit is a key step in settling a decades-old dispute between the commission and the 22nd District Agricultural Association, the agency that runs the state-owned fairgrounds.

It would allow the fairgrounds to continue using the area east of the fairgrounds – between Jimmy Durante Boulevard and Interstate 5 – as overflow parking, a golf driving range and for seasonal events.

In exchange, the fairgrounds would restore the 9.5 acre parking lot, which accommodates about 1,250 parking spots, south of the fairgrounds back to wetlands.

But Roberts and members of several environmental groups — including San Diego Coastkeeper, San Diego Audubon Society and the Sierra Club of San Diego — told the commission that a section of the east overflow parking lot, nearest to the river, should also be restored.

They argued that a recent report commissioned by the fairgrounds revealed that section is a significant part of the river’s wetlands. They said a parking study conducted by the fairgrounds also indicated that the lost parking spaces — about 1,500 additional spots — could be replaced with off-site parking in nearby schools.

Day said off-site parking spaces may not be available at peak times during the fair and horse racing seasons because those schools may be in session.

The commission ultimately voted 9-2 to give the various groups a month to talk about a possible compromise.

“I’m one of those people who think we shouldn’t be parking a bunch of cars on our coast anyway,” Chairwoman Mary Shallenberger said. “I recognize that is the reality on these fairgrounds but we really cannot pave over wetlands without some very serious mitigation for it.”